Iv had to keep myself busy with him not being here, or else I get so caught up in his absence that I feel lost in my mind, with words and emotions tying up my energy. Its only been 4 days, but when hes gone it feels like a lifetime. I’m ready for summer. I’m ready to wake up in the morning, the warm breeze drifting through open windows, sheer curtains dancing, dusting the wooden floor. The smell of salt wafting through the ocean air, scented candles flickering, the scent of honeydew and lemongrass. Rolling out of bed, a floral quilt, pastel colors of Easter egg lavender, ballet slipper pink, dusted with bits of sand crystal. Mermaid hair styled by ocean tides. Sun rays beat down, leaving loose curls and lemon streaks throughout. Waking up, warm skin a shade of cinnamon, entire days spent in a bikini and knotted up old tee. Friends slowly roll of out bed, mugs overflowing with coffee, vanilla, cream dripping down glass pitchers leaving rings on antique tables. Scooters, a rusted sea-foam green bike, chipped skateboards down small town streets. Grilled chicken, sour lime squeezed over pico de gallo. Fresh corn tortillas. Packing straw bags with terry-cloth towels, sunscreen, sunglasses. Sun-hats shield squinted eyes, the ocean glitters like silver sequins. Building a tent under thin white sheets, crisp and floating above. Surfers glide and flip through crashing waves. Night falls and heat lingers on the hot pavement. In the kitchen making margaritas, crushing ice, laughing as the blender sends a hale of snow flying into pans. Garlic bread in the oven, a pot of spicy tomato sauce bubbling on the stove. Oregano, basil, marjoram, pepper. Showering outside, leaving bikinis scattered on the tile floor, across sink faucets, hanging in the shower. Days and nights melt together to form one lasting memory. You never can tell when one day stops and the next begins. Obligations are forgotten, and the time of day drifts away.